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Parking and Driveway Design Guidelines

Public Works Department
Transportation Division

A. DEFINITIONS
 A “driveway approach” is that portion of the automotive vehicular access located in the public
right-of- way between the curb line (or edge of pavement) and the front property line.
 A “driveway” is that portion of the automotive vehicular access located on private property
between the front property line and the line which would be at the front of a vehicle when it
begins its first maneuver to enter either the first parking space or the first lateral aisle.
 An “aisle” is that portion of the automotive vehicular access located on private property which is
used for maneuvering between the driveway and the parking space (or stall).
B. WIDTHS
The widths of driveways vary depending upon the length of the driveway, the number of cars being
served, the number of cars that must back out into the street, and the presence of obstructions
adjacent to the driveway. The table below lists the City’s width guidelines and the maximum
number of cars that will be permitted to back out into the street. These guidelines apply only to
residential parking areas.
Driveway Widths for Residential Units
Length of Driveway (front property line to aisle)
Max # of cars
0’ – 30’ 31’ – 60’ 61’ – 100’ 101’ & over that can back
into street
Number of
Width in Feet
cars served
1-3 8 9 10 11 3
4–6 9 10 11 12 0
7 – 25 10 11 12 15 0
26 – 35 a / b 9 / 18 9 / 19 10 / 20 10 / 20 0/0
36 – 50 a / b 9 / 19 10 / 20 10 / 20 10 / 20 0/0
51- 100 a / b 10 / 20 10 / 20 10 / 20 10 / 20 0/0
a. One-way circulation (2 driveways required)
b. Two-way circulation (1 driveway required)

C. OTHER GUIDELINES
 Generally, driveway slopes should be less than 15%. Though driveway slopes of up to 25% may
be allowed, their approval is contingent upon a City Traffic Engineer’s consideration of total
driveway length, length of the 25% slope, width, topography, whether vehicles are driven, or are
likely to be driven, in reverse at any time, existing or proposed fences or walls of any type, and
other design issues relevant to the particular site.
 Driveway spacing on the same residential lot must be greater than 75 feet.
 Driveway widths must be less than or equal to 20 feet.
 Grade breaks of 10% are permitted and transition slopes must be 10 feet or longer.
 Commercial driveways are not permitted to serve a parking layout that results in vehicles
backing out and into the street.

Transportation Division, 1947 Center Street, 4th Floor, Berkeley, CA, 94704
Tel: 510.981.7010 TDD: 510.981.6903 Fax: 510.981.7060 E-mail: transportation@cityofberkeley.info
(Rev 11-2-2016 G:\CM-TRANSP\01- Development reviews\00 PROCESS\Guidelines\Parking Dwy Stds.docx)
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Parking Requirements

Width of Stall
Depth of Stall Width of Aisle
Angle of Parking Parallel with Aisle
(D) (W A)
(W S)
Parallel 8’ 12’ 22.0’
30° 16’ 12’ 16.0’
45° 18’ 12’ 11.3’
60° 19.6’ 18’ 9.2’
75° 19.5’ 21’ 8.3’
90° 18’ 24’ 8.0’

Notes:
A. The Berkeley Municipal Code, Zoning Sections 23D.12.080, 23D.04.70, and 23E.28.080,
requires various screening, buffering, or landscaping treatments dependent upon location of
parking (side or rear), number of spaces, and whether property is commercial or residential.
B. Add .5 foot if the parking space is adjacent to walls, posts, columns, landscaping, etc.
C. Vehicles are not permitted to maneuver, into or out of parking spaces, within the public right-of-
way.
D. Parking pad slopes must be 2% maximum or as approved by a City Traffic Engineer.

Transportation Division, 1947 Center Street, 4th Floor, Berkeley, CA, 94704
Tel: 510.981.7010 TDD: 510.981.6903 Fax: 510.981.7060 E-mail: transportation@cityofberkeley.info
(Rev 11-2-2016 G:\CM-TRANSP\01- Development reviews\00 PROCESS\Guidelines\Parking Dwy Stds.docx)